Bone nut for acoustic

horsehead

So, last weekend the nut on my tanglewood acoustic chipped and has taken the low E completely out so I want to atempt replacing it myself, but the question is; is a bone nut acceptable on an acoustic and where would I buy it from please?

Funkfingers

Not only would a bone nut be "acceptable" on an acoustic guitar of any price, it should also bring an improvement in tone over the Tanglewood stock plastic item.

For a 3x3 headstock, on which the strings flare out across the nut towards the tuners, it is probably wisest to work from a nut blank.

Your local guitar shop might have bone blank nuts. They are available via mail order from guitar parts suppliers. If you can stand the smell, you could cut your own blank from bone obtained from a butcher.

stephen.wood125

Whereabouts are you? I have a couple of spare blanks you can take to have a play with if you like?

ICBM

Bone is generally accepted as being the best material for the nut on any guitar, especially acoustic.

Many modern guitars use plastic nuts, but the good ones are almost all a type of plastic that's trying to emulate the hardness and low friction of bone.

horsehead

Thanks guys, @stephen.wood125 I'll message you